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Sen. Rubio's remarks ignite debate over creationism

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    Senator's comments spark controversy

  • Duration 8:45
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-- Florida senator Marco Rubio touching off a debate this week when he tried to sidestep the question about faith and science.

During a GQ magazine interview he was asked about the age of the earth.

And the senator and presidential hopeful it's believed.

Answered in part quote.

I'm not a scientist man.

I don't think I'm qualified to answer a question like that at the end of today I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created.

And I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all.

I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says and what science says.

Whether the earth was created in seven days or seven actual -- -- I'm not sure we'll ever be able to answer that it's one of the great mysteries.

Well since then.

There's been -- of criticism of senator rubio and his answer and joining me now to discuss it.

Q the rabbi decrease in the -- walk into the bar jokes and a rabbi Brad Hirschfeld author of you don't have me wrong for me to be right.

Father Jonathan Morris Fox News religion contributor and Alan Combs whose host of the -- -- radio show.

So with some some folks on the left wing blogs said there's there is a reality.

And he missed his opportunity to just admit the reality as opposed to trying to -- that he's a Catholic father Jonathan so you you I get the start with you.

I'm not often with the -- the liberal left wing blogs but in this case they're right he needs to learn how to answer this question in the in the finance would be very simple.

The Bible is not a science book.

The Bible is not a genealogy.

Book.

It is not -- medical journal the Bible -- -- revealing himself to us about humanity about life not salvation he should say.

This is not a question between theology.

And scientists -- if they're opposed but rather.

I go to science to find out about science they go to my face.

Which in his case a Catholic faith says nothing against those signs books.

That I have is ongoing debate about creation is.

There's a very small percentage in the United States for America.

That suggested that when the Bible talks but the genealogy between Adam motherly to Jesus which is 4000 years -- the 2000 years after Jesus that means.

The -- is only 6000 years old.

Not true why.

Because science is not opposed to faith and science is very clear about that sign.

-- says the earth is four point five billion years old or so.

Our rabbi -- on that I wish I could've said that I really knew that yesterday but I really didn't until the story came out that's interesting idea I think -- -- 6000.

-- I don't really and I wasn't sure about exactly how -- 04 point five million there you have it senator rubio -- hit.

But he seemed to be trying to walk a line without trying to.

And people of faith was did he need to do that.

I think he was actually traditional Jewish thinking -- Catholic on this I'm very comfortable that answer -- our thing -- -- -- I guess not but there are a lot of Americans for whom are answered doesn't work I think what he was actually trying to do.

A little bit in elegantly for my taste but really wisely.

-- honor to systems.

Both faith.

And science both of which are sacred to hundreds of millions of people and so actually I think what he's trying to hold together.

Is -- often gets split apart oftentimes the science people want him to admit the truth right you admit the faith doesn't -- anything about how we know the world.

And certain -- people are so.

Tentative in their faith they need everything to conform -- all the time when he was trying to do I think was remind people that when it comes to faith in the country.

It's like a hammer and a saw a building a house.

You need them both to get the building built and you probably shouldn't substitute one for the other what do you believe in terms of you know when the earth was created and how god played a role.

So for me it's very clear the earth is not 6000 years old.

In fact historically the only time any faith Jewish faith Christian faith Muslim faith any faith that entrenched in these calculations.

Was when they felt threatened by science some actual people of faith get into this game -- to prove that science is wrong really the place in the -- is their own faith.

Do I believe that god is intimately involved in the unfolding of the universe and what it means absolutely I do.

Can I -- that of course not when I know is these are two different ways of knowing the world need them both science is great.

In understanding how things came to be.

And faith helps us understand.

Why they came to be and what it means once they happen.

-- -- didn't know did you know that digital you know that Alan I don't know how did.

How did you did you noted that valleys here at four point five billion years old but the universe is fourteen point.

The fourteen point five today now and -- are -- up on this night I'm glad that I knew it as a few billion and it was a 9000 you know he sits there really assist with Paul Brown the college of Georgia and a couple of committees and brown says it's 9000 years old.

But as you point out father and that is that when you and I agree -- -- -- which is nice.

That there's no discord between science and faith here and and he didn't have to sound like he was try to appease the those who are anti science.

If you asked for example you believe in evolution what -- -- I'm not a scientist man.

-- -- I mean there is something called science and and he seems to be and not afraid to offend anybody.

At which is a very political answer but not a very Smart answered.

-- this study says the 58% of Republicans believe in creationism.

46% of all Americans believe in creationism when you say creationism -- and that's where the confusion comes in I believe in creation.

Absolutely believe that god created the earth that heavens and the earth -- -- he could also have used very natural scientific means and that's -- Diddy Diddy Diddy who hasn't been easy weird and creepy and meet that -- you -- you know -- You don't have to be able to answer that sitting here those are actually decisions of faith been real distinction between faith based -- from the science based answer and this is right do think he made a mistake.

By suggesting -- the same they're not the truth is the science progresses.

When it learns that it's wrong scientists love finding out they're wrong they're not undermined by a -- that's how they grow.

Faith based answers especially in the creationism world.

Don't ever want to know their wrong.

And that's why do I believe people should learn all these creation stories I actually do but here's the difference I think science based creation stories should be taught in science classrooms.

Book based site creation stories yeah but that taught -- -- what do you believe what you wouldn't senator rubio who may want to be our president what do you believe do you believe.

That we have had a god who did it in seven days that the earth is 9000 year old do you believe that we -- -- -- five million.

Yeah Roman Catholic -- And he said a very public that he isn't that he did that he he should have no fear whatsoever saying I believe god created heaven and earth and how he did that.

So I'm not exactly sure but I do trust scientists to talk to us about science -- How what are -- going to say whether you endorsing intelligent design you know that that the earth has been around for point five million but it was god who created the need and that's seven day thing was just.

Sort of a way of understanding how he did how much.

Design is a very specific scientific method that I wouldn't endorse because I'm not a scientist -- -- -- not that is not.

Yeah I think we try.

Try to -- and that's who you're asking that's he won't get an endorsement that way he was trying to do it's not what he believes or doesn't believe.

It's are we as a country really ready to have leaders who tried very hard to respect both the claims of science.

-- the claims that I think it was lots of little and I still pitching or when I was really trying to -- -- baseball diamond you know my iPad stylus mode always respected that.

Here's this a problem Romney got into we tried to appease whatever group he was talking to at the time he didn't really.

No core values conservatives don't believe is a real conservative -- something he's really a moderate and here's rubio clearly with his -- -- higher political office.

And is afraid if they need in the event and yeah this is what Barack Obama said because I read -- long -- -- -- -- Obama did it 20 my god we got.

And Obama did -- thing it did and he's now if you see any page directly I thought it was gonna have a history of yours is -- Obama.

I believe in evolution I don't think that's incompatible with Christian faith back I don't think that the science is incompatible with Christian faith I think is on the we have to bog down and -- I'm amazed at the mystery of the planet -- -- about stuff that's.

However Obama never said he's open the possibility of the earth was created exactly seven days -- rubio isn't left himself open that's a total difference important difference I think.

Marco Rubio can -- and say.

Yes there's and there are mysteries.

That I don't understand but doesn't mean that I can say here's one scientific theory that is very very sure another one that is very unsure therefore there had the exact same -- no you can't do that you considers a mystery.

But I respect science's science and faith it states and they're not contradictory.

Still -- -- a totally understand what I'm supposed to say on this issue as a Catholic -- figured -- I think you all so much --

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